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Jueves 7 de septiembre: retiro para el clero 

Este día está diseñado específicamente para revivir e inspirar a nuestro clero diocesano. Incluye un discurso del Dr. Tim O’Malley, autor de “Becoming Eucharistic People”, Misa, tiempo de reflexión personal y comunitaria, una comida compartida y compañerismo. Este evento es solo por invitación. Por favor oren por nuestro clero en este día.

Viernes, 8 de septiembre — Retiro de todas las diócesis

Todos están invitados a la Iglesia Seven Dolors en Albany para un retiro de un día con el Dr. Tim O’Malley, autor de “Becoming Eucharistic People”, junto con tiempo para Misa, oración, discusiones en grupos pequeños y grandes, una comida compartida, compañerismo y un Hora Santa opcional. El registro comienza a las 8:30 am con el programa de 9 am a 3 pm con Misa a 3 pm. Una cuota de inscripción de $15 ayudará a compensar el costo del almuerzo y los materiales.

Sábado, 9 de septiembre — Evento familiar para toda la diócesis

Únase a nosotros para pasar un día en el parque en Lake George, ubicado a solo unas cuadras de la Catedral de St. Mary en St. Cloud. El día comienza con la Misa diaria a las 8 a. m. seguida de una procesión eucarística alrededor del lago, adoración eucarística y oportunidades de confesión. El Dr. Tim O’Malley dará varias direcciones a lo largo del día, incluidas mini sesiones para familias y adultos jóvenes. La banda SONAR pondrá música durante todo el evento.

Otras actividades incluyen una exhibición de “Milagros eucarísticos” y una búsqueda del tesoro, una exhibición de arte y palabras eucarísticas, aprendizaje y oportunidades de servicio, actividades para niños, inflables, camiones de comida y más. El día concluye con la Bendición, la Coronilla de la Divina Misericordia y una procesión multicultural a la Catedral de Santa María con Misa a las 4 p.m. seguida de la fiesta anual de barrio de St. Mary.

Este evento es gratuito. Los invitados deben traer sus propias mantas o sillas de jardín. Los alimentos estarán disponibles para la venta en camiones de comida (se recomienda apoyar a estos vendedores locales, sin embargo, siéntase bienvenido a traer un almuerzo campestre). Se invita a los participantes de las procesiones a traer pancartas, imágenes sagradas, estampas, estatuas y/u otros elementos que representen o inspiren su fe.

+ APRENDE MÁS

Para obtener más información y registrarse para el evento del 8 de septiembre, visite stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival/.

Lo que hay que saber sobre los Congresos Eucarísticos

¿Qué es un Congreso Eucarístico?

“Un Congreso Eucarístico debe ser considerado según el Ritual Romano De comunione et de cultu mysterii eucaristici extra missam (1973) n. 109, como una reunión a la que una iglesia local invita a las demás iglesias de la misma región o de la misma nación o del mundo entero”.

¿Cuál es el propósito de este Congreso Eucarístico local?

Como muchos Congresos Eucarísticos, este evento tiene el “alcance de aumentar la comprensión y participación en el Misterio Eucarístico en todos sus aspectos: desde la celebración hasta el culto, para que su influencia impregne toda la vida personal y social”.

Es la esperanza de que la gente de las parroquias y ACC de todas partes se reúna para celebrar toda la belleza, la verdad y la bondad de la Iglesia local. Por ejemplo, compartiendo los sacramentos, oraciones y devociones de nuestra tradición, escuchando mensajes sobre la construcción de una cultura eucarística del Dr. O’Malley, escuchando las historias de personas que se enamoran de Jesús y compartiendo formas de amar y servir a nuestro prójimo, es la esperanza de este Congreso crear unidad mientras se honra la diversidad, dando testimonio de la Presencia Real de Jesús y de cómo vivimos nuestra fe de muchas maneras diferentes.

¿Cuáles son los rasgos esenciales que constituyen la celebración de un Congreso Eucarístico?

“El Ritual Romano señala en el n. 112 que el centro de todo Congreso Eucarístico es la celebración de la Eucaristía, fuente y cumbre de toda la vida cristiana. La celebración de la palabra de Dios y las charlas pueden contribuir a profundizar en los diversos aspectos del Misterio Eucarístico que sugiere el tema del Congreso. La posibilidad de rezar en común y de adorar al Santísimo Sacramento en iglesias designadas contribuye a interiorizar estos temas. Finalmente, las procesiones eucarísticas pueden ayudar a expresar una dimensión pública y ritual de la fe en la Eucaristía, que se celebra, reflexiona y reafirma durante el Congreso”.

Nota: Las frases citadas son extractos del Pontificio Comité para los Congresos Eucarísticos Internacionales.

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His quest began in 1991, before the current church building even existed. Don, along with Joanne and others who were committed to the concept, formed small prayer groups who gathered regularly and prayed that they could get the idea off the ground.

“St. Anthony’s has always been a church of prayer,” Joanne said. “In the old church, you could go and pray any time and there was always someone there praying. It was when they added an elevator in the old church that a classroom became accessible and that’s where we started adoration,” Joanne recalled.

That was Jan. 12, 1995; and when St. Anthony’s dedicated a new church building in 2001, it included a separate eucharistic adoration chapel. This is now it’s 28th year being open 24 hours, seven days a week, with a few exceptions during liturgical holidays.

Over the years, the need for adorers has waxed and waned, and it especially took a hit during the pandemic. Last fall, Nicky Carlson, a member of St. Joseph Parish in Waite Park, heard about the need for help organizing and finding more people to participate. She felt called to step forward to assist.

“It is such an important part of our community that I just want more people to experience it,” Carlson said.

Carlson herself first encountered the real presence of Jesus while coming forward for a blessing at a Catholic church in the Twin Cities several years ago. She grew up Baptist, and as a young adult her natural curiosity inspired her to ask questions about her faith and explore other traditions. While discerning with a Catholic priest, she often sat in the pew during Communion until he encouraged her to go through the line to receive the blessing.

“I was a little unsure, but I went up,” Carlson said through tears, recalling the sacred moment. “I could see the person next to me about to receive the host and, as the priest was holding it up, I truly saw Jesus present in the Eucharist.”

Because of her profound love and respect for the Eucharist, Carlson has found that, in addition to her love of Mass, she has a deep devotion to eucharistic adoration and wants others to have the opportunity to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament whenever they are able.

“Spending time [in adoration] helps you learn to live in the quiet and allows you to hear God’s voice,” Carlson said. “For me, it’s the only place I can really do that. There is noise everywhere. Having a place where you can go and really listen is important. When I look at Jesus in the monstrance, I feel like I am making eye contact with him. When I think about how many people are allowing Jesus into their lives, I can just imagine what that does for our whole community.”

Joanne added that she, too, is always touched by the ways adoration speaks to people in different times of their lives.

“We don’t know all the little things — or big things — happening in people’s lives but we know a lot of people come through here, some who are members and many who are not. We also see a lot of young people discerning vocations come here to pray. It is always so encouraging to see that,” she said.

Carlson has been so moved by the commitment and dedication of those who sign up for holy hours, sometimes multiple times a week, and people who drive from all over to come and spend time in the chapel. While the response is great, Carlson said there is always a need for more adorers. Interested people can contact her at nicolechristine789@gmail.com.

“When I look on our schedule and see how many people are committed, it is just overwhelming. Some have multiple hours, some come in the middle of the night, some come multiple days each week. Some people come alone, some bring their families. I just want that for more people.”

Since Joanne’s husband, Don, died in 2011, she has continued his legacy as an adorer and wants to encourage others to give it a try. For those who haven’t experienced it, the unknown can feel uncomfortable.

“Sometimes people don’t know what to expect or what to do when they first go, but all I can think of is what Mother Teresa said, just ‘come and see.’”

‘Come and see’ event

Joanne, Nicky and others are planning a retreat-like event at St. Anthony’s June 17 to help people grow in their faith, especially in light of the National Eucharistic Revival that began nearly a year ago. (See box)

The event will begin with Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Patrick Neary and include talks by Father Brady Keller and Fred Blonigen, and “eucharistic love stories” from local people including Nicky’s testimony.

“My greatest hope is that people who don’t understand or know the Real Presence would come to that understanding, and for those who do, to deepen their love for Jesus,” Carlson said. “It’s the same thing I tell my eighth- and ninth-graders when I teach faith formation — I don’t teach you about the Mass, or prayer or the Eucharist so you can memorize the facts. It’s so you fall in love with the Mass, with prayer and with Jesus.”

If you go…

• When: Saturday, June 17
• Where: St. Anthony Church, St. Cloud

The day begins with Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Patrick Neary, C.S.C., followed by short talks from guest speakers Father Brady Keller and Fred Blonigen and with eucharistic love stories (testimonies) from local Catholics. Lunch will be available and requires an RSVP by visiting stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival. Following lunch will be a holy hour and Benediction.

For more information about this and other Eucharistic Revival resources, visit stcdio.org/eucharistic-revival.

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Yet how often do we have a moment to reflect on this priceless gift? Even in Mass we can become distracted, and what is miraculous and precious becomes routine. The National Eucharistic Revival can be such an opportunity for reflection and for deepening our love for what God has given us — his Son, Jesus, who we receive into our hearts. During this time, we can make a point to focus on the Eucharist — in the Mass, in our reading, in our faith formation classes, and in the quiet of our own hearts. We can use this time well to pay closer attention to this gift.

• The Eucharist and the Mass

At every Mass we are witnesses to a miracle. The Eucharist is not a symbol of Our Lord; the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. At the altar, he truly comes to us, again and again, in his real presence.

Christ himself instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper as a “memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, No. 47).

The Eucharist calls us to memorialize Christ’s passion and death on the cross, the sacrifice in which he won for us our salvation and eternity with the Father. It also is a tremendous sign of our unity as believers. We call it Holy Communion because when we approach the altar, we are acknowledging our unity with Christ, his church, and one another.

Yet these words can only partially express a mystery that is beyond words: “If you understood him, it would not be God,” writes St. Augustine. So, too, with the Eucharist. During the National Eucharistic Revival, we can plumb this mystery more and more deeply — not just when we come together for Mass, but in every situation of life.

The church asks all of us to examine our consciences to make sure we are truly prepared to receive Jesus:

• Are we in a “state of grace,” that is, not aware of any unconfessed grave sin? If not, then we should celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation first.
• Have we observed the one-hour fast from food and drink (except for water and medicine) before receiving Our Lord?
• Do we believe in the Real Presence; do we believe that Christ is present, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity?
• Are we faithful to the moral teachings of the church in our personal and public lives?

Ways to celebrate the Eucharistic Revival

• Corpus Christi processions. The National Eucharistic Revival began on the feast of Corpus Christi in the United States, Sunday, June 19, 2022. The feast of Corpus Christi began in 1246 in France and became a feast for the entire Western Church only 18 years later. It was itself meant to be a celebration of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharistic feast. In this centuries-old Catholic tradition, the faithful form a kind of “parade” to honor the Body and Blood of Christ, singing Eucharistic hymns as they march in a church or other public setting as a testimony of their faith.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Churches are celebrating Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition, Catholics spend time praying and worshipping the Lord in the Eucharist while the Host is exposed on the altar.

Adult Faith Formation. Throughout the revival, parishes around the country are offering programs and other types of study on the Eucharist. Catholics are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to join with others in deepening their faith and understanding of the Eucharist.

• More ways to draw closer to Jesus in the Eucharist
• At Mass. When we recognize that Jesus himself is present in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to realize that participation every week at Sunday Mass (or Saturday vigil Mass) is more than an obligation. It is a privilege! When you are in the presence of the Consecrated Host, pray with heartfelt sincerity, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” With St. Thomas, who touched the wounds of the Lord, simply say, “My Lord and my God.”
• Make a spiritual communion. When we desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist but are unable to do so, we may make what is called a “spiritual communion.” Wherever we may be, we need only ask the Lord to come into our hearts and renew his life within us. We can then spend a few moments in prayer and praise, and then resolve to receive Communion as soon as possible.
• Before the tabernacle. Jesus is present in the Host reserved in the tabernacle. We can take time out regularly to visit a church and talk to him there. Make it a “Holy Hour.”
• In an adoration chapel. Many churches provide a place where the Blessed Sacrament remains exposed for prayer and adoration every day — sometimes even around the clock (the latter is known as “perpetual adoration”). This arrangement provides an excellent and ongoing opportunity to draw close to Jesus in his Eucharistic presence outside Mass. If possible, sign up for a regular time to visit the church or chapel.
• Through learning and teaching. Abundant resources are available for study. Ask pastors or directors of religious education for suggestions about literature, recordings, broadcasts and websites that teach about the Eucharist.
• Cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Finally, keep in mind that the word “Eucharist” literally means “thanksgiving.” In Holy Communion, as Jesus gives himself to us, we give ourselves to him as well in gratitude. His sacrifice on the Cross — presented on the altar — takes away the sins of the world and makes possible for us a life of intimate union with God.

The post How to grow in devotion to the Eucharist (during the Eucharistic Revival and beyond) appeared first on The Central Minnesota Catholic.

DETROIT (OSV News) — For the past 10 months, hundreds of Catholics across the Archdiocese of Detroit and beyond have shared their stories of Eucharistic fervor, inspiration and transformation as part of the archdiocese’s I AM HERE campaign to encourage devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

The campaign, launched in June 2022 as part of the U.S. bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival, aims to inspire Catholics and others to share their testimonials as a way of inspiring others to consider spending an hour with Christ in adoration, meditating on his presence and inviting others to do the same.

On April 10, Easter Monday, a new voice was added to the campaign’s trove of testimonials: Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron’s.

The archbishop shared his early memories of encountering Jesus’ presence as a child, how insights gained during adoration saved his vocation as a seminarian, and how, even today, Jesus continues to sustain his ministry as chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

“I went to a small Catholic school and we had, as our teachers, the Sisters of Saint Joseph from Nazareth, and they were very attentive to share with us their own Eucharistic faith, their own Eucharistic devotion,” the archbishop said.

From a young age, Archbishop Vigneron said he shared his parents’ belief in the Real Presence, learning “to be reverent in church and to know that God is present and really important.”

As a student at Immaculate Conception Grade School in Anchorville, the archbishop recalled the example of Sr. Magdalena, his first- and second-grade teacher, and Sr. Jane Frances, who was in charge of the altar servers, with instilling in him “what a privilege it is to serve at Mass” and to receive holy Communion.

“When I was 6 years old, in the lectionary for Holy Week, there was the reading of the Passion. I remember Sister telling us that if we didn’t move during the whole reading, we would have special graces. (I’m sure she was concerned about how fidgety 25 6-year-olds might get!),” Archbishop Vigneron said. “I remember striving very hard to remain very still for the seemingly infinite amount of time that it took for Father to read the Passion in Latin. That was one way I was taught reverence for the sacred liturgy and made aware of God’s presence in it.”

That reverence for the presence of Christ in the Eucharist served the future archbishop well later in his life, especially during his crucial priestly formation years at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, when doubts about his vocation began to creep in.

As a 20-year-old sophomore, Archbishop Vigneron recalled praying one night in the seminary’s chapel, worried he might not be called to the priesthood after all.

“I was coming very close to leaving the seminary. I was thinking that perhaps I wasn’t called. I was also perhaps a bit afraid about what the future would hold,” the archbishop said. “I remember being in that chapel and receiving an insight that I was being a coward by thinking of leaving — that it wasn’t about being called somewhere else, but it was about escaping what I really understood would be the challenges that the church would face.

“I realized that that’s not the kind of disciple, that’s not the man I wanted to be. And so I made a commitment to stay,” the archbishop continued. “That’s one of the most powerful prayer experiences I’ve had in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. It’s something I often return to in prayer, to ask to be renewed in that commitment, to try and be generous, and to try and have fortitude as a disciple.”

Even now, as chief shepherd of the Archdiocese of Detroit, Archbishop Vigneron, 74, said it’s the Eucharist that continues to sustain, strengthen and embolden him to preach the good news to the flock he’s entrusted to serve.

“It is when I celebrate the Eucharist that I am very mindful that my ministry doesn’t depend on me. The Eucharist is a reminder that I don’t offer myself to the people that I serve, and that Christ is always there through my ministry,” he said.

During the preface of the Eucharistic prayer during Mass, Archbishop Vigneron said it’s struck him lately that the church’s prayer “It is right and just, always and everywhere, to give God thanks” is a reminder that there is no one, no place, and no time that Christ can’t reach.
“And so that means that every time, every place in the world can be sacred, can be taken away from the realm of the Devil, from the realm of sin and be transformed,” he said.

Archbishop Vigneron said he prays that those who consider themselves disciples of Christ would find a new appreciation for Eucharistic adoration — even if that means just sitting in silence, face to face with the Lord.

“For me, one of the most important ways to be engaged in Eucharistic adoration is to sit down and be quiet. I don’t have to say a lot. In fact, the less I say, the better. And to recognize that I am loved,” the archbishop said. “The Blessed Sacrament is the sacrament of Christ’s unconditional love for us. And I’m invited to love him in return.”

NOTES: In addition to written testimonials shared weekly on the I AM HERE website, https://www.iamhere.org, and Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/iamhere.campaign, the campaign also features a podcast, reflections and prayer guides through a partnership with the Hallow app, and original testimonials and resources in Spanish. Catholics from the Archdiocese of Detroit and other dioceses are invited to share their own testimonials, which are published regularly. The campaign has partnered with parishes during Advent and Lent to promote special I AM HERE Holy Hours, and encourages parishes to host their own Holy Hours.

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Relevant Radio, Augustine Institute, Franciscan University of Steubenville, EWTN, OSV (the parent company of the OSV News wire service and the weekly Our Sunday Visitor newspaper) and the Knights of Columbus have each made “a substantial financial commitment” and “pledged significant in-house resources toward the planning and promotion of the event itself,” according to the April 17 news release.

“One thing has been consistent with every partnership that has developed from these organizations — they all have rolled up their sleeves and asked, ‘How else can we help?'” Cande de Leon, chief advancement officer for National Eucharistic Congress Inc., said in a statement. “It gives me great joy to see the commitment of these organizations with regard to helping the Church and truly wanting to bring people to Jesus in the Eucharist.”

The Year of the National Eucharistic Congress and Missionary Sending 2024-25 is the third and final year of the U.S. bishops’ National Eucharistic Revival.

Launched last year, the National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year campaign by the U.S. bishops to increase the Catholic understanding of and devotion to Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. Part of the impetus for the campaign was a Pew Research Center study in the fall of 2019 that showed more than three out of 10 Catholics understand and believe in Jesus’ Real Presence.

What will be the U.S. Catholic Church’s 10th National Eucharistic Congress — but the first in 83 years — is expected to draw more than 80,000 people, and organizers have compared the event to World Youth Day, with prayer and liturgies, catechesis for individuals and families, and a festival-like atmosphere.

OSV, the Huntington, Indiana-based Catholic publishing company, has been a supporter of the National Eucharistic Revival and Congress from the beginning because “we saw this movement as not just a vehicle for reviving Catholic belief in the Real Presence of Christ but for fulfilling the Great Commission,” said OSV Publisher Scott P. Richert.

“The church in the United States is facing unprecedented challenges that can only be solved by a return to the heart of Christianity, our encounter with Christ,” he said, adding that the hope of the congress is Catholics will encounter Christ in Indianapolis, discover Christ in everyone they meet, and invite others to encounter Christ in his church.

“When we learned about the Congress, we immediately knew this would be a great benefit to the church and to souls, since the holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ himself,” said Father Francis “Rocky” Hoffman, executive director and CEO of Relevant Radio.

“We encourage our listeners to attend and partner in prayer for a successful Congress,” he said. “All positive, sustainable, and transformative change in the Church is rooted in our love for and encounter with the Holy Eucharist.”

Founded in 2000 to bring Christ to the world through the media, Relevant Radio broadcasts on over 200 stations across America in all major markets, and globally through online streaming and a mobile app.

The mission of the Augustine Institute, based in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village, “is to help Catholics understand, live and share their faith” through its Graduate School of Theology, academic and parish programs and multimedia resources, said Tim Gray, the institute’s president.

“Our hope is that the National Eucharistic Revival leads thousands upon thousands of Catholics to rediscover the love of God who draws close to us and gives himself up for us in the most holy Eucharist,” he said.

The Eucharist has always been the wellspring of Franciscan University of Steubenville’s spiritual life and at the heart of the school’s Steubenville conferences, according to the university’s president and Third Order Franciscan, Father Dave Pivonka.

“Year after year, we have seen the power of Jesus in the Eucharist heal, renew and unify our students, faculty, staff and conference guests, so we’re excited to help stir up a greater love for the holy Eucharist,” he said.

“We pray the Holy Spirit enkindles the fire of faith in the Real Presence in the hearts of our brothers and sisters across the country,” he added.

EWTN’s founder, Mother Angelica, a Poor Clare of Perpetual Adoration, “built the network around her community’s chapel where the Eucharist was adored 24 hours each day” at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in rural Alabama, said Michael Warsaw, CEO of the EWTN Global Catholic Network.

“Devotion to Our Lord in the Eucharist still remains physically and spiritually at the heart of the EWTN apostolate. There is no undertaking in the church today more important than the program of Eucharistic Revival, and EWTN is happy to fully support this effort,” he said.

In August 2021, Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly, the CEO of the Knights of Columbus, announced the Catholic international fraternal order would be a major sponsor of the National Eucharistic Revival.

“The more we devote ourselves to the Eucharist, the more we will understand what it means to live a life of service and sacrifice for others — and to live a life of true unity, centered on the ‘source and summit of the Christian life,'” he said in a statement about the organization’s decision to be a mission partner for the 2024 congress.

NOTES: To register for the congress go to: https://www.eucharisticcongress.org/register

Photo: This is the logo for the U.S. bishops’ three-year National Eucharistic Revival. Registration opens Feb. 15, 2023, for the National Eucharistic Congress being held in Indianapolis in 2024. (OSV News photo/courtesy USCCB)

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